Hello My Dear Reader,
Isn’t this time of year magical? It always feels like a fresh start filled with hope and anticipation. Like how you used to feel like as a child every morning when you woke up:)
One of the best practices that I have started this year is to let go of the old stagnant feelings that weigh me down and set a positive intention for my life. I did this with some lovely ladies on the night of the Winter Solstice and it felt aH-mazing!
Here’s what you can do. Simply get a piece of paper, fold it in half, and make two columns. On the first side make a list of everything you want to let go of. Things that didn’t work for you, things that didn’t align with your purpose, and so on. On the second side, write down all the things you want to bring into your life. This is the fun part. These are all the things that make your soul sing like creating more health, abundance, love, and so on. Really allow your heart to open to create the real magic here. When you have finished your list you can burn it, let it go. Intentionally.
Tweet: Letting go of the past gives me freedom to make healthy choices now.
I wanted to share some tips with you that I often focus on in my private practice to help my clients make big changes toward their health in small baby steps. These health tips will help you transform your health, increase your energy and enjoy a happier you. Pick a few tips from below a couple of tips from below and put them on your list of positive intentions.
1. Start your day with a glass of room temperature lemon water. This practice is so important because it sets your day up for success. Your body is most acidic in the morning, as it detoxifies over night, and lemon water helps to alkalize the acidity. It also helps to keep your body energized and removes impurities that can interfere with bodily functions. I use 1/2 an organic lemon with it’s skin on.
2. Eat a serving of traditionally fermented foods daily. Choose from a variety of sources like raw sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, or kombucha. (here is a link to some recipes, like how to make your own sauerkraut) Did you know that we are more bacteria than we are human? With most of the bacteria residing in your gut, we want to make sure that the good bacteria are in charge, not the bad ones that make us sick. The functions of healthy bacteria in the gut are vast as they are needed to uptake and manufacturing nutrients, boost immunity, and reduce inflammation in the body. When you have an imbalanced microflora where the bad bacteria have taken over, you’ll start to see symptoms like bloating, irregular bowel movements, heartburn, etc. A poor microflora balance in the gut can eventually lead to depression, anxiety, skin issues, joint inflammation, food sensitivities, and autoimmune diseases like arthritis.
3. Make sleep a priority. For my clients who suffer from sleep issues like trouble falling asleep or waking up multiple times during the night, I start their nutritional protocol by helping them address this issue first. I usually recommend some type of herb (like valerian root for falling asleep, or
passionflower for staying asleep). With the help of a symptomatology and health history intake we can determine if there are nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar imbalances, or adrenal fatigue that could be the root cause of the sleep issues. I wrote this helpful article with tips on how to get your best sleep so you can enjoy a better mood, maintain a healthy weight and have more energy.
4. Don’t skip meals. I often have clients put reminders in their schedule and/or phone to have lunch. Especially my entrepreneurial clients. I’m not perfect at this either but I continually make an effort to eat regular meals. It’s importmant because a well balanced meal will help you keep your metabolism in check, blood sugar in balance, and your energy levels soaring high throughout the day.
5. Let go of the guilt and diet rules. Sometimes I feel like my office is like a confessional booth, where clients feel safe to admit their nutritional sins. It’s OK. We all have our moments. Sometimes it involves cookies. The important thing to remember, every moment is a new start. Let go of the past. It’s already happened and there is nothing you can do about it. Focus more of your energy on the things that are going well for you. Listen to your body, honour your body, and start by loving yourself more. The rest will fall into place. If you do struggle with digestive issues, hormonal imbalance, depression, or difficulty losing excess weight then I would recommend to start a food journal. Write down everything that goes into your body and how you feel. If you really want to play a health detective, write down your bowel movements too. Start to notice patters, food sensitivities, connection to food and mood. If you need some help, book a complimentary discovery session with me and I will give you some action steps to improve your health.
So there you have it folks! What are you letting go of? Share with us below!
To a happy + healthy 2016!!
In health,
Annaliisa
